What do you love about where you live?
Aug 13th 2015, 7:57 am
#31
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
Thanks for the good advice. We will be researching areas on our own by renting first. Nec trip is just to pick up further information.
Aug 13th 2015, 8:23 am
#32
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
If you're going to that, please don not get sucked into the fight, hotel and tour bit. All they're doing is upping the price of the house/apartment.
A "friend" asked us if we'd be happy to pay 7% to sell our house
Erm, no, why should we? His answer was that the company will bring people who want to buy our house - yeah, ours and everyone elses
Take your time, research, visit, research and more research.
We've no regrets about buying our home, but we're 10 years older and now want something different, hence hoping to move.
A "friend" asked us if we'd be happy to pay 7% to sell our house
Erm, no, why should we? His answer was that the company will bring people who want to buy our house - yeah, ours and everyone elses
Take your time, research, visit, research and more research.
We've no regrets about buying our home, but we're 10 years older and now want something different, hence hoping to move.
Aug 13th 2015, 9:06 am
#33
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
There have been posts from those who have moved to less expat popular parts of Portugal where English is not so widely spoken, where local officials have less experience of the requirements of expats, social deprivation even finding familar food stuffs..
Your small Portuguese village in the interior or coastal town with wonderfull views can become a very different place in the middle of a cool and rainy Feb when there is no local bar or supermarket that you can pop down to and find others like you.
Your small Portuguese village in the interior or coastal town with wonderfull views can become a very different place in the middle of a cool and rainy Feb when there is no local bar or supermarket that you can pop down to and find others like you.
Aug 13th 2015, 9:07 am
#34
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
I find your thoughts about less popular parts of PT as not reflective of our experiences. More non tourist areas are not the third world and even in the small town nearest our property, all the every day requirements are obtainable food and none food wise, maybe they are Portuguese products but never the less meet the need. I doubt if there are many places, even small villages that don't have a bar and what do you mean "meet others like you"? This sound like an us and them comment.
The picture you paint is not consistent with our experience and anyone moving into an area would, if they are wise, check it out first.
Locals here are very helpful, friendly and with a little Portuguese you can make yourself understood and what you require. The attitude of local people is considerably more social and less commercially orientated than around the highly populated Algarve region, as pleasant and lovely as it is, but to each their own.
The picture you paint is not consistent with our experience and anyone moving into an area would, if they are wise, check it out first.
Locals here are very helpful, friendly and with a little Portuguese you can make yourself understood and what you require. The attitude of local people is considerably more social and less commercially orientated than around the highly populated Algarve region, as pleasant and lovely as it is, but to each their own.
In my village there are three people who live here two are English and one Portuguese and guess what we have running water and something called Electrikty whatever that is. The is also something you can talk into and speak to other people but why speak to other people when you can talk to yourself.
The local town have banks, shops and places to have food and drink aren't we lucky. Where is this oasis to be found I am not telling we want it left as it is unspoilt.
No Snide comments the above is in jest.
Peter
Aug 13th 2015, 9:33 am
#35
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
unspoilt peter until today when 10 thousand bikers turn up
Aug 13th 2015, 6:22 pm
#37
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Location: Viana do Castelo
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
Great thread as I am looking to relocate next year and it is in no way that I don't like it here in Viana do Castelo, but I need to explore hence I have not yet bought property. I will do so in 6 years time when I have settled.
I know that it is each to their own and what might suit one will not suit another.
The pros of Viana:
The mountains with lush pine forests.
The sea and the river beaches.
The vibe of the old city center with cobbled narrow streets.
The numerous festivals and markets.
The only private hospital in a 150 km radius and a big general hospital.
Reliable bus and train transport.
The cons of Viana.
Little English and no Tesco.
I know that it is each to their own and what might suit one will not suit another.
The pros of Viana:
The mountains with lush pine forests.
The sea and the river beaches.
The vibe of the old city center with cobbled narrow streets.
The numerous festivals and markets.
The only private hospital in a 150 km radius and a big general hospital.
Reliable bus and train transport.
The cons of Viana.
Little English and no Tesco.
Aug 13th 2015, 6:38 pm
#38
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
No Tesco Ukram
We don't have one down here, either
Stick with Aldi, Lidl, Pingo Doce or at a push, Intermarche. Mini Preco are supposed to be good, but the nearest to us is the other side of Tavira.
We don't have one down here, either
Stick with Aldi, Lidl, Pingo Doce or at a push, Intermarche. Mini Preco are supposed to be good, but the nearest to us is the other side of Tavira.
Aug 13th 2015, 7:03 pm
#39
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
Come south we now have 3 Apollonia stores, for those who need their waitrose fix.:
Aug 13th 2015, 8:05 pm
#40
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
Can't afford to shop there
Aug 13th 2015, 8:30 pm
#42
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
No EMR, I'd be too tempted. I'll stick with the cheaper end of shopping
Aug 14th 2015, 7:55 am
#43
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
Little English and no Tesco; that's a Blessing!
Aug 14th 2015, 7:57 am
#44
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Aug 14th 2015, 1:10 pm
#45
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Location: Arcos de Valdevez "Onde Portugal se fez"
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Re: What do you love about where you live?
Another pro for anywhere from Porto northwards is that the natives speak quite a ripe version of Portuguese, so you get to know some of the most important words first when you're learning the language.